Department for Education

Digital Technology: Training

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many digital skills courses have been provided to UK SMEs by the Skills Toolkit since April 2020.

Gillian Keegan: Courses on The Skills Toolkit are taken by individuals rather than firms or small or medium-sized enterprises. As of 29 November 2020, there have been an estimated 132,000 course registrations. These are experimental statistics and further information can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/apprenticeships-and-traineeships/2019-20.

Ministry of Justice

Divorce: Mental Health

Sir Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of divorce on people's mental health; and what steps his Department is taking to help reduce that effect.

Sir Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to raise awareness of out-of-court alternatives for couples seeking divorce.

Alex Chalk: The Government has made a landmark change to the law on divorce with the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020. We are working to implement it so that the legal process for divorce does not incentivise conflict. By making an applicant or applicants’ statement conclusive evidence of the irretrievable breakdown of a marriage or civil partnership, we are removing the need to establish conduct or separation-based facts and for the drafting of supporting particulars.We want to encourage positive, non-confrontational approaches to resolving problems before they reach the courts. This includes separating parents who are in conflict. In December 2020, we issued a statement on behalf of the Family Justice Board that sets out our immediate and longer-term reform priorities for the family justice system. This includes testing an earlier gateway to court to offer families a more rounded assessment of the needs of children and their families, and an improved offer for non-adversarial problem solving. This Government is committed to ensuring couples and parents can navigate the family justice system and understand the different options available to resolve their disputes, including out-of-court options such as mediation where they are safe and appropriate.

Department of Health and Social Care

Maternity Services: Coronavirus

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of NHS trusts have covid-19 restrictions in place for birth partners attending maternity appointments and scans as at 1 December 2020.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Data on the number of National Health Service trusts with COVID-19 restrictions in place for birth partners attending maternity appointments and scans is not held centrally.Restrictions on visitors are subject to local discretion by trusts and other NHS bodies. The Department expects trusts to use the guidance in place to support access for partners, visitors and other supporters of pregnant women in English maternity services.NHS England and NHS Improvement are assured that 100% of trusts report that they are actively using the guidance as they make local decisions on visiting restrictions, based on a risk assessment.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Covid-19 priority vaccination list published on 2 December 2020, whether people classed as frontline health and social care workers includes those currently studying who are working on the frontline during educational placements.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Green Book chapter on COVID-19 states that all staff who have frequent face-to-face clinical contact with patients and who are directly involved in patient care, in either secondary or primary care/community settings, are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. This includes temporary staff, such as those working in the COVID-19 vaccination programme, students, trainees and volunteers who are working with patients.

Diagnosis

Chris Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to ensure equitable patient access to proven remote diagnostics to support home testing.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department and the National Health Service are prioritising the improvement of connectivity and digitisation across all aspects of diagnostics in order to drive efficiency, deliver seamless care across traditional boundaries and facilitate remote reporting.The first four phases of the Artificial Intelligence in Health and Care award included innovations in remote diagnostics, including the Neuronostics Limited smartphone-based app which can receive electroencephalogram recordings from wireless headsets to assist with assessing epilepsy treatment; Senti Tech Limited’s project enabling remote chest examination for respiratory patients through sensors embedded into a jacket; and Healthy.io UK Limited’s smartphone albuminuria self-test, which uses a home test kit and a mobile app to allow patients to self-test at home with clinical grade results.

Coronavirus: Christmas

Sir Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will extend the covid-19 Christmas dispensation period for NHS staff working between 23 and 27 December 2020 to ensure that they are able to spend time with their families.

Helen Whately: The Christmas social contact easements enabled people to form an exclusive bubble of three households between 23 and 27 December. The regulations do not provide the scope to create an exemption for National Health Service workers that would have enabled them to form a Christmas bubble either before or after the specified period. We encouraged employers to be as flexible as possible with leave arrangements over the Christmas period.

Hospices: Finance

Peter Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding his Department has allocated to hospices in (a) Darlington and (b) England (i) during the covid-19 outbreak and (ii) over winter 2020-21.

Helen Whately: Over £150 million in additional funding to the hospice sector was made available between April and July. This will be used to enable hospices to provide more capacity for step down and community care alongside their existing palliative and end of life services.Further funding of up to £125 million has now been announced in the COVID-19 Winter Plan, published 23 November.Funding allocation is led by NHS England and NHS Improvement. NHS England and NHS Improvement advise that St Teresa’s Hospice in Darlington received £424,579 between April and July this year. St Teresa’s, like other hospices, will also be eligible to apply for the further additional funding now being made available.

NHS: Databases

Sir Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what procedures are in place to ensure the names of the deceased are removed from NHS databases to prevent families receiving letters addressed to someone who has died months or years previously; and if he will make a statement.

Ms Nadine Dorries: We are making improvements to health records to resolve cases where letters have unfortunately been addressed to deceased individuals. Data quality checks are regularly carried out to reduce the number of patients who may be registered with the wrong general practitioner practice or who are no longer patients, either due to death or because they are no longer resident in England.It is the responsibility of local systems to ensure records are up to date by using the Patient Demographic Service. For letters sent from NHS Digital-based systems, both formal and informal flags relating to status of death are used for assessment prior to sending, which is designed to ensure letters are not sent.There are recent changes to increase the speed with which a death can be registered which informs Office for National Statistics data. This includes the ability to verify that death has occurred via remote consultation, sending Medical Certificates of Cause of Death electronically to the local registry office and telephone rather than physical appointments with the next of kin to complete registration.

Care Homes: Visits

Taiwo Owatemi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce the (a) financial and (b) logistical strain on care homes from the introduction of lateral flow testing to facilitate visits.

Helen Whately: We understand that the pandemic continues to impose significant pressures on the social care sector and we keep funding under review. The Infection Control Fund (ICF) is available for care homes to use for additional COVID-19 related infection prevention and control costs. apply for support in reducing the rate of COVID-19 transmission. The ICF has been extended until March 2021, with an extra £546 million for the care sector to improve infection prevention and control, including enabling providers to put in place measures to support safe visiting.

DNANudge: Coronavirus

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the availability of peer reviewed papers containing clinical trial data to demonstrate (a) the efficacy and (b) the scalability of the DNA Nudge covid-19 test.

Helen Whately: The DNANudge COVID-19 test was reviewed by the expert panel of the Department’s Technologies Validation Group. The Group reviews peer reviewed papers where they exist, but for DNANudge, at the time that it was initially reviewed, no published papers were available although a preprint of a paper that has subsequently been published was studied. DNANudge has also has obtained a derogation from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, so they are approved by the Agency There is significant work underway between Department and the National Health Service to understand the technical specifications of the DNA Nudgebox machines and how these could best support NHS pathways.

Coronavirus: Contact Tracing

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government’s national Track and Trace system routinely uses shared surname and household data to identify the close contacts of people who are required to self-isolate.

Helen Whately: Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 are contacted by NHS Test and Trace and asked to provide the details of people who are their recent close contacts, including all other members of their household. The information they are asked to provide about their close contacts includes: their name, phone number, email address, whether they are under 18 years of age or an adult, and how and where the individual came into contact with them. If this was through work, school, college or university, or another activity outside their home, such as a hospital or care home visit, a sports or leisure activity, or a visit to an event or a place of worship, the individual is asked to provide the location name and postcode.

Coronavirus

Mr Marcus Fysh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of positive covid-19 tests reported in England relates to people who have been reported as testing positive for covid-19 previously.

Helen Whately: We do not publish data in the format requested.

Coronavirus: Screening

Mr Marcus Fysh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportions of positive tests for covid-19 reported in England have been undertaken by (a) the polymerase chain reaction method and (b) other methods; and how have those proportions changed since the start of the covid-19 outbreak.

Helen Whately: We do not publish data in the format requested.

Contact Tracing: Computer Software

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 12 November 2020 to Question 98750, what steps he is taking to address the inability of 87 per cent of iOS and 93 per cent of Android smartphone users to use the NHS Covid 19 app; and what assessment he has made of the accuracy of reports that the number of users in those categories amounts to 3.7 million people.

Helen Whately: The latest data from Apple and Google indicate that 87% of iOS smartphone users and 93% of Android smartphone users in the UK currently do have access to a smartphone that is able to install a version of the operating system with the contact tracing technology the NHS Covid-19 app uses. We have always known that some phones would not be able to support the app because of the hardware needed for this Bluetooth technology to work effectively. This is the same in all countries with apps using the Google and Apple exposure notification API for contact tracing.The NHS COVID-19 app is only one part of the wider NHS Test and Trace system and for those who cannot use the app, advice is available via NHS 119 and the phone-based contact tracing system. People who do not have a compatible smartphone will still benefit from other people downloading it. The estimate of 3.7 million people being unable to use the app as they do not have a compatible smartphone is derived from the above data from Apple and Google, and data from the Office for National Statistics that indicate that 79% of adults in the United Kingdom have a smartphone.

Contact Tracing: Consultants

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the highest daily or hourly rate paid for any individual consultant at each firm providing services to the Government's Test and Trace programme; what the period of engagement is for that consultant at each such firm; how much the Government has paid to engage that consultant at each such firm; and what the duties are of that consultant at each such firm.

Helen Whately: As of the beginning of November 2020 there are over 2,300 consultants and contractors working for 73 different suppliers for the Test and Trace programme. The total expenditure on these consultants to date has been approximately £375 million.The pay rates of individual consultants engaged from each supplier is commercially sensitive information.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of people who may suffer an adverse drug reaction to the covid-19 vaccine.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the nature of potential adverse drug reactions from the covid-19 vaccine.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The safety profile, including the nature and frequency of any adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccine(s) will be reviewed as part of any Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency authorisation, and evaluated against the benefits of the vaccine(s). Once authorised, this will be described in the product information available to health professionals and vaccines.

Coronavirus: Chesterfield

Mr Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, of the people that took covid-19 tests at the Chesterfield covid-19 testing centre on 6 August 2020, how many results were communicated to people on (a) 7 August, (b) 8 August, (c) 9 August, (d) 10 August, (e) 11 August and (f) 12 August or later; and in how instances was no result communicated.

Helen Whately: The Department does not publish data on the return of COVID-19 tests in the format requested.During the week of 3 to 9 December, 91.8% of in-person tests were received the next day after the test was taken.

Coronavirus: North Yorkshire

Kevin Hollinrake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to provide health facilities for people who experience long-term effects of covid-19 in (a) Thirsk and Malton constituency and (b) North Yorkshire.

Ms Nadine Dorries: NHS England has provided £10 million to fund over 40 pioneering ‘long COVID-19’ specialist clinics including seven in the North East and Yorkshire region. The plans for these clinics were published on 15 November and commissioning guidance was made available on 6 November.NHS England and NHS Improvement have committed to ensuring clinics will be available from early December 2020. In response, each integrated care system is working towards the provision of at least one such service, although the exact location for each is yet to be provided.A number of these clinics are already established, and new clinics will start to accept patients at the end of November. More details will be made available shortly.

Coronavirus: Screening

Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of false positive test results from covid-19 testing in England and Wales.

Helen Whately: In June 2020 the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies published a briefing paper on the impact of false positives and false negatives in the United Kingdom’s COVID-19 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing programme, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gos-impact-of-false-positives-and-negatives-3-june-2020

Coronavirus: Students

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of conducting covid-19 tests on incoming university students this winter, in areas with low current infection rates where testing has been de-prioritised.

Helen Whately: We have quickly established walk-through sites and deployed mobile test sites so that almost every university student now has access to testing within one and a half miles when displaying symptoms. In cases of outbreaks we are working with universities to deliver large batches of home test kits which can then be distributed to students isolating in their households or halls of residence to test themselves. Use of multiple new testing technologies for asymptomatic students could significantly improve our detection of positive cases and further reduce the spread of the virus

Coronavirus: Screening

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the covid-19 test sensitivity rate is for each of the Lighthouse Laboratories under pillar 2; and what standard sensitivity rate has been agreed with his Department.

Helen Whately: The information is not held in the format requested. All tests have been assessed as performing to manufacturers’ specifications before being used.

Care Homes: Coronavirus

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that agency staff working in care homes are regularly tested for covid-19.

Helen Whately: Care homes are provided with sufficient testing kits when they order from the care tests portal to do this. Guidance is clear that weekly testing of care home staff includes agency staff. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/regular-retesting-rolled-out-for-care-home-staff-and-residents

Adult Social Care Infection Control Fund

Sarah Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which local authorities received the Adult Social Care Infection Control Fund payments in (a) May and (b) July 2020 but did not spend it.

Helen Whately: On 15 May 2020 we published details of a £600 million Infection Control Fund for adult social care. The Fund was paid in two instalments: in May and July. The Department is still assuring the information that local authorities have provided on the final expenditure of the overall fund, which ran from May to September 2020. However, on 27 July, we published data that shows that every local authority distributed funding and that, in total, councils had distributed £257 million of the initial £300 million tranche by 23 July.On 17 September 2020 the Government announced the extension of this fund until March 2021, with an additional £546 million for the care sector.

Members: Correspondence

Olivia Blake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the letter dated 22 October 2020 from the hon Member for Sheffield, Hallam on the Justice for Simba campaign, if he will meet with the hon Member for Sheffield, Hallam and members of that campaign to discuss (a) Simba's situation and (b) the effect of hostile environment policies on the NHS.

Edward Argar: The Department does not have a record of the hon. Member’s letter of 22 October 2020.The Department is in the process of completing an internal policy assessment to consider the Charging Regulations in relation to the most vulnerable in society, including migrants and asylum seekers.While we cannot comment on specific cases, the Department will provide those stakeholders invited to contribute evidence for consideration in this assessment, with an update on the latest position and next steps in due course. Stakeholders include Migrants Organise, the organisation leading the Justice for Simba campaign.

Coronavirus: Bingo

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many recorded covid-19 transmissions have been linked to bingo halls since July 2020.

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the scientific evidence supporting the closure of bingo halls and clubs in areas under tier 3 covid-19 restrictions.

Ms Nadine Dorries: As set out in the Government’s Winter Plan, decisions on tiers are made by Ministers based on public health recommendations primarily informed by five key indicators. We know that the virus spreads readily in indoor environments where members of different households and/or support bubbles spend time together, so the transmission risk in indoor settings remains high. Our approach has always been guided by scientific and medical advice. The restrictions that apply at each tier will be reviewed every 28 days to ensure they remain necessary and proportionate. The Government is committed to publishing data that has informed its decision making, including the tiers framework and allocations. We have also published supporting analysis to accompany the laying of the most recent regulations is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-health-economic-and-social-effects-of-covid-19-and-the-tiered-approachEpidemiological data and projection models on local restriction tiers, including commentary on individual tier allocation decisions, is available at the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/938964/Coronavirus_England_briefing_26_November.pdf.This provides further information and context beyond the headline metrics as to why areas are in particular tiers currently.

Mental Health: Care Leavers

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to work with the Department for Education on improving mental health outcomes for care leavers.

Ms Nadine Dorries: We are planning with the Department for Education to undertake a national mental health survey examining the mental health of looked after children and how services can better support improved mental health for this group. We will include care leavers in this survey as we recognise they may be particularly at-risk of experiencing a mental health problem.

Treasury

National Savings and Investments: Correspondence

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will place in the Library the NS&I policy on sending paper prize warrants to its customers.

John Glen: Since 2011, Premium Bonds holders have been able to have their prizes paid directly into a UK bank account in their name. Since March 2020,  more than 750,000 customers have switched from receiving paper warrants (cheques) to having their prizes paid directly into their bank account or automatically reinvested. As of December 2020, 82.5% of Premium Bonds prizes were either paid directly into a UK bank account or reinvested back into Premium Bonds.The decision by NS&I announced on 17 September 2020 to pay all Premium Bonds prizes direct to customers’ bank accounts was informed by changing customer behaviours. It will make managing Premium Bonds prize distribution quicker, more cost-effective and have a much lower environmental impact.Paying prizes directly to the customers bank account also reduces the proportion of Premium Bonds prizes from going unclaimed.